Bennett Raglin/Getty Images Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam DesalegnBennett Raglin/Getty Images Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn(CNN) - Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn resigned unexpectedly on Thursday, after years of upheaval in the troubled east African nation. It was not yet clear who would replace Hailemariam, who has been in power since 2012. He also quit as chairman of the ruling coalition Ethiopian People Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). The unexpected move comes against the backdrop of violent anti-government protests and a nationwide state of emergency that started in October 2016. Hailemariam, 52, said he would stay on in a caretaker capacity until the EPRDF and the Parliament named a new prime minister, according to Reuters.

Source: Ethiopian News February 15, 2018 17:15 UTC